Automatic aligning and leveling two-way plow



June 24, 1952 J. E. JOHNSON 5 5 AUTOMATIC ALIGNING AND LEVELING TWO-WAYPLOW Filed Feb. 8, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l INXENTOR ATTDR'N EYS June 1952J. E. JOHNSON 2,601,296

AUTOMATIC ALIGNING AND LEVELING TWO-WAY PLOW Filed Feb. 8, 1950 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. C/ames [ZR/0612500,

ATTD R N EYS June 24, 1952 J. E. JOHNSON AUTOMATIC ALIGNING AND LEVELINGTWO-WAY PLOW Filed Feb. 8, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTD RNEYS PatentedJune 24, 1952 AUTOMATIC ALIGNING AND LEVELING TWO-WAY PLOW James E.Johnson, South Dos Palos, Calif.

Application February 8, 1950, Serial No. 142,979

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to farm implements and particularly gang plows ofthe type drawn by tractors, and in particular a twin plow structurehaving two duplicate plowing units with the units positioned on oppositesides of the center of the plow and with the plows of the unitsoppositely positioned wherein with the plow traveling in one directionthe plows of one unit are used and with the plow traveling in theopposite direction the plows of the unit on the opposite side of thecenter are used, and in which a tongue by which the implement is drawnis automatically centered on the plows being used, and a supportingwheel on the side of the implement in which the plows being used arepositioned is automatically dropped into a furrow for leveling the plow.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a plow for plowing back andforth across a field without traveling around the outer edge of thefield or a section thereof.

In the usual method of plowing afurrow is started around the field orsection thereof and with each trip around the field another furrow isplowed, or where gang plows are used another group of furrows areplowed. With this method of plowing it is substantially impossible tocome out even at the center and it is also necessary to drag the plowover plowed ground to remove the plow and tractor from the field. Withthis thought in mind this invention contemplates a plow having plowspositioned to plow in one direction on one side of the center and in theother direction on the opposite side of the center and meansautomatically actuating the plows to operative and inoperative positionsas the ends of the field are reached and also means for automaticallyshifting the tongue to the group of plows being used, and means forleveling the plows.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means forconstructing a twin plow having duplicate sets of oppositely positionedplows spaced equal distances from a center whereby the plows are readilyactuated to operative and inoperative positions with the pulling tongueshifted from side to side with the movement of the plow and with thesupporting wheels also raised and lowered as the plows are actuated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a twin plow of the gangtype in which the plows and pulling tongues are actuated for operationson either side of the center in which means is provided for adjustingthe depth of a furrow or furrows formed by the plow.

A further object of the invention is to provide a twin plow having plowsfor plowing with the plow traveling in two directions and with means foradjusting the pulling force and elevation of the plows which is of acomparatively simple and economical construction.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the plow with the supportingwheel on the near side omitted and with one set of plows in theoperative position and the other set in the inoperative position.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the plow with the parts in the positions asillustrated in Figure 1, with parts broken away and with parts shown insection.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the implement, similar to thatshown in Figure 1 with the plow in the inoperative position.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing a longitudinal section through themachine and also showing the plows in the inoperative positions.

Figure 5 is a detail taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1 illustrating thetongue mounting carriage that travels transversely across the frame ofthe machine and with other parts removed.

Figure 6 is a detail taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5 illustrating therollers by which the carriage is mounted on a transversely disposedbeam.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding parts the twin two-way gang plow of this inventionincludes a tongue I!) slidably mounted through a carriage I l on an axlel2, a pivot bar [3 on which plowshares l4 and I5 are pivotally mountedthrough supporting frames, supporting wheels I 6 and I1, and hydraulicrams I8 and I9 which are controlled by a four-way valve 20.

The tongue [0, which is provided with a clevis 2| on the outer end ispivotally mounted in the forward end of the carriage H by a pin 22 andthe elevation of the outer end of the tongue is supported from a bracket23 by a bar 21 which has spaced bolt holes 25 therein. The bar 24 ispivotally mounted by a pin 26 between ears 2! on the forward end of thetongue and the opposite end of the bar is adjustably held by a bolt 28in the upper end of the bracket 23 with the bolt positioned to extendthrough the bolt holes 25 of the bar.

The carriage II is formed with diagonally disposed braces connected by abar 29 and U-shaped frames 30 and 3| are provided at the end by whichthe axle l2 by plates 49 and 4| and support bars 42 and 43, which carrythe plowshares through beams 44, on the bars 42 and 45 on the bar 43,are supported from the pivot bar l3 with the bar 42 carried in the outerends of arms 46- andthe bar 43 in the outer end of arms 41..;- Theplowbeams 44 of the plowshares l4 are secured on the bar 42 by clamps 48with bolts 49 thereinan'd.

the plow beams 45 are secured to the bar 43 by clamps 56, with .bolts5.l;;there in.; The plow-beams are retainedin spaced 'relationbyu-shaped brackets 52'with: bolts .53.;ther inv nd. h 1 b m 5.5, .byU-shaped ;brackets, ,54 having bolts- 55 therein, With the bars, and tilsquareasillustrated in Figures 3 and hand. with, the.b .lt;secured inthe. arms ttiyand 47,; respectively by welding the plowsewill beretainedzby 'stifi a rnsin outwardly extended positions from thepivotbar it, as illustrated in Figures 3 andxl.

The hydraulic cylinders or rams ldand .idare pivotally supportedin;brackets tilt-Jana 51, by plns 58 and 59-, respectivelyiand the bracketsaregposi-r tioned on the upper end of a frame 60 thatex tends upwardlyfrom. the pivot banlfi; and thatflis supported in the upright positionby braces 5 landBZ which lextendnupwardly from the ;,pla.6.es; st and 4!connecting the ends of the pivot bar with the ax1e'.il'2.; Thelpistonrods- 63 anduM-jof the cylinders ldand. tdhrespectively arepivotallymounted on therintermediate plowbeams A l-and.

ddathroughbrackets fibiand 56;,1respectively. The bracket fifivbeine..TDITGMidEQ. with upwardly extendedears'tlibetween which a hub 58 on theend oithe.rodfiEcispivotally mounted by a pinBQ. Similar ears. 7E3:aretprovidedon the bracket 56 and a hub l lionthe .endiof the rod 16%;.is pivotally mounted between these, cars by a miz.

The hydraulic cylinders are actuated by fluid under pressure-fromesupply; pipe 178i and with the .valve 2Bppositioned1as shown Figure 2the fluid enters, the; upper end of the cylinder I9 through a connectionl4 and the lower end of the cylinder E8 through a connection 15, theconnection [4 being connected; to an outlet connection it of the valveEii bya hose H and the connection 15 being connected to the connection14 by hose l8 and a tubele which is positioned on the upper surface ofthe cylinder l9. With the valve in this position the lower endof thecylinder i9 is connected toa discharge tube through a hose BI. a tube82.;and a hose 83 and a connection Ed on theupperend of the cylinder [8,is also connected to the discharge by the hose 83. With the partsarranged in thismanner plows carried by thebeams 44 are elevated, thepressure being applied to-the lower end of. the cylinder I 8, and withthe pressure-relieved at the lower end of the cylinder l9 theplowscarried bythe beams diare lowered.

By a simplemovement of an operating lever of the valve 20 the valve maybe turned to the opposite direction wherein the press reis applied tothe lower'end of the cylinder I 9 and the upper d o n-c l n er 8. nd; tp ess re ofrt e cylinder I8 is relieved at the lower end with thepressure of the cylinder l9 relieved at the upper end.

The beams 44 of the plow H! are connected to the carriage II by a cable85 and the beams 45 of the plows [5 are connected to the carriage H by acable 85. The cables 85 and 36 are con- 7 nected to the carriage in sucha manner that as the plows to which they are-connected are lowered tothe operative positions the carriage is drawn along the axle I2 untilthe tongue I0 is aligned with the plows in the operative position.

The cable-BE-is connected to the beam 44 by a clevis 8'! and this cableextends over a pulley 88 on an arm 89 extended from the frame 60,throughan opening 98 in the brace 6| over a pulley Sim-also journaled onthe frame 66, and across the frame to the carriage II with the end ofthe cable being attached to the carriage by a clevis 92. The cable 86 isconnected to the beam byya clevis 93 and fromlthe -,clev is the cable.ex-

tends-over. a pulleyiifionan arm 95 on the;.op\- posite u end .ofrtheframe 6 8., and-from, the pulley through an-opening-S5 in thebraceslaandoven a pulley ill; to thecarria-geli to whichit is connected by a'clevis--l8.- With the partsarranged in this manner it willbenoted-thatas the plows of the beams- 4 t are,lowered-the cable;85. drawsthe carriage l over; to r a position aligned with or, centere d on theplows lqwhereby a'.-pulling.

force on the tongue 3 l9 .will be centered .on the plows ,in the lotvererrl or -operative:positions. 1

The supporting wheels 7 i 6 and; H. arejournaled on the outer end-s armsSQ andtell, respectively and the armsare'mounted on;the,ends :of.;the

The arm led on which the :wheel. if! on ;the .nea r si of the p w ismoun ed-1 ip yidfid-w hih upwardlyextended; strut l er; the; upper end:pf: which --is; connected to a collarl0 2- on ;theba r;4-3 by a chainI03 and, as illustrated in; Figure 1,;

the chain pulls the strut l- 1;over;as,the plows ii are lowered to theoperativeposition and .the

strut which, with'the arm lfiil forlns a bell'cranlc forces the wheel ildownwardly; whereby the wheel drops into. a furrow formed .by the lastplowingactionof the plow.

In the same manner the 9.1111599 ;is controlled by; a chain Ed th-that.is; ccnnectedto ,a strut at; one end andto a collar l36, -at-the otherwhere-1 by as the plows l4 are lowered ,togthe operative position thewheel is is pulled- ,downwardly into;

a furrow.

h t o nthe er; fimneraiham: s tions the Wh e s 1.! te d- 1' r e. {Q11 erace of theground as; shown in Figures 3 and l and so own i f l n s inflaand t e;

upward movement of the arms 89 a trolled by; adjusting screws l 01andscrews the I elevation of; the frame; in :relation machine travelsback across the -1' 'leld A plate I II is-posi-tioned on a frame l z onthe carriage H and the position; ofthe plate I l I is ad usted by a t rnuck l 3: ri e; rew. 4. and ll 5 in the ends with thescrew Mil-connectedtothe upper encl of th c frame-l l2. .thro ug h a brace H6 towhichaclevis-lllis conneetedeby were I09 and lit, respectively. Withthese adjustinga pin H8. The screw H5 is pivotally connected to thebracket 23 by a clevis H9 with a pin Hi]. The frame H2 is pivotallymounted on the carriage II by a pin E2! in bearings I22.

With the parts arranged in this manner the field may be plowed bystarting at one end and plowing across and back with the machine turnedaround at each side of the field with one set of plows plowing with themachine traveling in one direction and the other with the machinetraveling in the opposite direction and as each set of plows is loweredto the operative position the tongue is automatically shifted to aposition aligned with the operating plows and at the same time the wheelon that side of the plow is low ered into the last furrow.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the design andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A twin two-way plow comprising a frame having a transversely disposedaxle and a pivot bar spaced from the axle, supporting wheels journaledon the frame, a tongue slidably mounted on the axle, a plow pivotallymounted on the pivot bar and positioned on one side of the center of theframe, another plow positioned opposite to the former plow also mountedon said pivot bar and positioned on the opposite side of the center ofthe frame, means elevating the plows independently to inoperativepositions, means actuating the tongue to a position aligned with one ofthe plows by the plow mounting means as the plow is lowered to anoperative position, and means lowering the adjacent supporting wheel ofthe frame by the said plow as the plow is lowered to the operativeposition.

2. In a twin two-way gang plow, the combination which comprises a framehaving a transversely disposed axle mounted therein, a pivot bar spacedfrom and parallel to the axle also mounted in the frame, supportingwheels journaled on the frame for supporting the frame in spacedrelation to a surface upon which the plow is positioned, a tonguecarried by the axle and longitudinally slidable thereon, a plurality ofplows pivotally mounted on the pivot bar positioned on one side of thecenter of the plow and mounted to plow away from the center thereof, a

plurality of plows pivotally mounted on the said pivot bar positioned onthe side of the center opposite to that of the former plows and alsomounted to plow away from the center of the plow, the plows on one sideof the center being opposite to the plows on the opposite side thereof,hydraulic cylinders pivotally mounted on the frame and positioned toelevate the plows, means connecting the plows on each side of the centerto the tongue independently whereby the plows actuate the tongue tooperative positions as the plows are lowered, and means actuating thesaid hydraulic cylinders from a remote point.

3. In a twin two-way gang plow, the combination which comprises a framehaving a transversely disposed axle mounted therein, a pivot bar spacedfrom and parallel to the axle also mounted in the frame, supportingwheels journaled on the frame for supporting the frame in spacedrelation to a surface upon which the plow is positioned, a tonguecarried by the axle and longitudinally slidable thereon, a plurality ofplows pivotally mounted on the pivot bar positioned on one side of thecenter of the plow and mounted to plow away from the center thereof, aplurality of plows pivotally mounted on the said pivot bar positioned onthe side of the center opposite to that of the former plows and alsomounted to plow away from the center of the plow, the plows on one sideof the center being opposite to the plows on the opposite side thereof,hydraulic cylinders pivotally mounted on the frame and positioned toelevate the plows, means connecting the plows on each side of the centerto the tongue independently whereby the plows actuate the tongue tooperative positions as the plows are lowered, means actuating thesupporting Wheels by the plows on each side of the center independentlywhereby the wheel on the side of the machine on which the plows arebeing lowered is lowered by the plow mounting means.

4. In a twin two-way gang plow, the combination which comprises a framehaving a transversely disposed axle mounted therein, a pivot bar spacedfrom and parallel to the axle also mounted in the frame, supportingwheels journaled on the frame for supporting the frame in spacedrelation to a surface upon which the plow is positioned, a tonguecarried by the axle and longitudinally slidable thereon, a plurality ofplows pivotally mounted on the pivot bar positioned on one side of thecenter of the plow and mounted to plow away from the center thereof,

a plurality of plows pivotally mounted on the said pivot bar positionedon the side of the center opposite to that of the former plows and alsomounted to plow away from the center of the plow, the plows on one sideof the center being opposite to the plows on the opposite side thereof,hydraulic cylinders pivotally mounted on the frame and positioned toelevate the plows, means connecting the plows on each side of the centerto the tongue independently whereby the plows actuate the tongue tooperative positions as the plows are lowered, means adjusting theposition of the tongue, and means actuating the supporting wheels by theplows on each side of the center independently whereby the wheel on theside of the machine on which the plows are being lowered is lowered bythe plow mounting means.

JAMES E. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,187,380 Kaltoft Jan. 16, 19402,249,861 Silver July 22, 1941 2,363,901 Silver Nov. 28, 1944 2,383,689Silver Aug. 28, 1945 2,385,935 Oerman Oct. 2, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 601 Great Britain of 1870

